Everything you need to get the most out of Australia's wildest island: Cradle Mountain and its mirror lakes, the provocative art of MONA in Hobart, the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay, the convict history of Port Arthur, the orange rocks of Bay of Fires, the oysters of Bruny Island and the wombats of Maria Island. We tell you how to get there (Spirit of Tasmania ferry or flight), a self-drive plan with a 7-10 day itinerary, where to really see the Tasmanian devil, when to go, how much it costs and, first of all, which visa you need for your passport.
Tasmania is the Australia almost no one expects: an island the size of Ireland dangling off the south of the mainland, with almost half its area protected in national parks and world heritage. Here the air is among the cleanest on the planet, the mountains reflect in mirror lakes, the beaches have sand so white it squeaks underfoot, and at night you can see the southern lights. It is also a land of top-class food -- oysters, cheeses, Pinot Noir and award-winning whisky -- and of harrowing convict history. In this guide, updated for 2026 with real prices and tips, we tell you what to see, how to get there, how to drive it and when to go, with a ready-to-copy itinerary. We start with what spares you the most grief: the visa.
Tasmania is a state of Australia, so no one enters without a travel authorisation arranged before flying, even if you arrive from the mainland by ferry. Which one you need depends on your passport. Sort it out with us to do it right the first time (nearly all rejections come from inconsistent data or poorly presented paperwork):
Travelling on a US passport (or from Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia...)? You need the ETA (subclass 601). Our course shows you how to get it right the first time, in minutes. Approval is always up to the Australian Government; we are not the government.
🎓 Get the ETA 601 course (PDF + slides) →What is the ETA 601? Full guide → · British passport? You need the free eVisitor 651 →
These are the places you can't miss, with what is genuinely worth doing at each one, how much it costs and a tip or two so you don't waste time or money.
Tasmania's most iconic image: the jagged silhouette of Cradle Mountain reflecting in Dove Lake. The star plan is the Dove Lake Circuit, a flat, circular trail of 6 km (2-3 h) that loops the lake with constant mountain views. The fitter crowd climbs to Marions Lookout or summits the peak (7-8 h, demanding). This is also where the Overland Track begins, Australia's great 65 km, 6-day trek.
The largest private museum in Australia and one of the most provocative in the world: ancient and contemporary art carved into the rock beside the River Derwent. Adult entry is around 39 AUD (free for Tasmanian residents). The best way in is the ferry disguised as a military boat that leaves from Hobart's Brooke Street Pier (about 30 AUD return, 30 min up the Derwent).
The wineglass-shaped bay, with white sand and turquoise water, is one of the most photographed beaches in the world. The postcard shot comes from climbing to the Wineglass Bay Lookout (1.5-2 h round trip, with steps). Anyone who wants to feel the sand walks down to the beach (a full half day) or does the Wineglass-Hazards Beach circuit (11 km, 4-5 h). All inside Freycinet National Park, among the pink-granite Hazards.
Australia's most important former penal colony, today a World Heritage Site: over 30 buildings and ruins in landscaped grounds by the sea where you can grasp the country's brutal convict past. Adult entry is around 55 AUD and is valid two consecutive days; it includes an introductory guided tour, talks, a short harbour cruise and access to museums and gardens.
Kilometres of bright white sand beaches, turquoise water and big granite boulders coated in an intense orange lichen that makes the scene unmistakable. It is not a single beach but a stretch of coast between Binalong Bay and Eddystone Point. Perfect for strolling, taking incredible photos and camping by the sea.
The quintessential gourmet getaway from Hobart: a double island joined by a sandy isthmus (The Neck, with its lookout and its penguin colony). You reach it on a short ferry from Kettering (about 40 min south of Hobart). Here you eat some of the best oysters, cheese, whisky and chocolate in Tasmania, and take wildlife cruises along cliffs where you can spot seals, dolphins and seabirds.
An island-national park with no cars or shops, a ferry ride from Triabunna. It is one of the best places in Australia to see wildlife in the wild: wombats grazing beside the trail, kangaroos, wallabies and birds. It also holds convict ruins at Darlington, the striped cliffs of Painted Cliffs and the Fossil Cliffs.
Australia's smallest and most charming capital. Its heart is Salamanca Place, a row of Georgian sandstone warehouses that on Saturdays hosts the Salamanca Market (8:30am-3pm, some 300 stalls of local crafts and food). Stroll the Constitution Dock waterfront, climb up to the historic Battery Point neighbourhood and crown kunanyi / Mount Wellington (1,271 m) by car for a full view of the city and the estuary.
Tasmania is separated from the mainland by Bass Strait, so you can only get there by plane or by ferry. Which suits you depends on whether you want your own car.
Tasmania is best enjoyed behind the wheel: it is compact, the roads are beautiful and that way you reach the corners no tour covers. Key points:
Want to chain Tasmania with more destinations? Check out our routes and itineraries around Australia and the what to see in Australia pillar.
Tasmania is an ark of unique wildlife. Many animals that went extinct or grew scarce on the mainland still thrive here, without foxes or rabbits to displace them. What you can see:
Tasmania is the jewel of the four seasons, each with its own charm. And it is always, always cooler than the mainland:
To plan the weather and seasons across the whole country, see when to travel to Australia.
Tasmania is considered the gourmet pantry of Australia: cool climate, clean seas and artisan producers all over the island. Don't miss:
A driving loop that combines the two halves of the island without the stress. Start and finish in Hobart or Launceston depending on where you fly:
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 · Hobart | Salamanca, Battery Point and the docks · drive up to kunanyi / Mount Wellington · seafood dinner at the harbour. (If it's Saturday, Salamanca Market first thing.) |
| Day 2 · MONA + Richmond | Morning at MONA arriving by ferry · afternoon in the historic town of Richmond and a Coal River Valley winery. |
| Day 3 · Tasman Peninsula | Full day at Port Arthur (2-day ticket) · Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch and Remarkable Cave · optional nighttime Ghost Tour. |
| Day 4 · Bruny Island | Ferry from Kettering · oysters, cheese and whisky · The Neck at sunset with penguins. (Alternative: a trip to Maria Island from Triabunna.) |
| Day 5 · Freycinet | Climb to the Wineglass Bay Lookout · beach or Hazards circuit · sunset at Cape Tourville. Night in Coles Bay or Bicheno (penguins). |
| Day 6 · Bay of Fires | Northeast coast: Binalong Bay, The Gardens and the orange lichen rocks · night in St Helens or Launceston. |
| Day 7 · Launceston + Tamar | Cataract Gorge · Tamar Valley wineries · Harvest Market if it's Saturday. |
| Days 8-10 · Cradle Mountain | Dove Lake Circuit and wombats at dusk · Devils@Cradle (Tasmanian devil) · with more days, Strahan and the Gordon River cruise in the wild west. |
Before you enjoy Tasmania, secure the right visa (ETA 601 or eVisitor 651) and file it correctly the first time. We guide you step by step.
🎓 Get the ETA 601 courseApproval of any visa depends solely on the Department of Home Affairs.
Ideally 7-10 days. With 7 you can do a loop Hobart-Freycinet-Bay of Fires-Launceston-Cradle Mountain. With 10 you add Port Arthur, Bruny and Maria Island. With 4-5 days, focus on one half (south or north).
Summer (Dec-Feb) for hiking and beaches (high season). Autumn (Mar-May) for the colours and fewer people. Winter (Jun-Aug) for the southern lights and Dark Mofo. Always cooler than the mainland: pack layers.
The Spirit of Tasmania ferry (Geelong-Devonport, ~9-11 h, passenger from ~100 AUD) only makes sense if you bring your car. If you rent there, it is usually cheaper and faster to fly to Hobart or Launceston (60-250 AUD).
You need a parks pass: ~47 AUD per car/24 h or ~95 AUD for the Holiday Pass (8 weeks, up to 8 people). At Cradle Mountain, access to Dove Lake is by compulsory shuttle in high season.
At conservation sanctuaries: Devils@Cradle (next to Cradle Mountain, with night passes), Bonorong (near Hobart) or Tasmanian Devil Unzoo (on the way to Port Arthur). In the wild they are nocturnal and rare.
Yes, always; Tasmania is Australia. US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia: ETA 601. UK passports use the free eVisitor 651, as do other European passports. Other nationalities: Visa 600. Get it with us above.
